Spoilers Increased Comedy in Star Trek (SFA spoilers)

[Miami Vice Admiral]

Watching the new Starfleet Academy episodes, it seems clear that Star Trek is continuing to bend towards the goofy side. Obviously there is still much to come but this seems to be the trend in my mind.

Yes, Star Trek has always had humor, but because of the low amount of episodes per season it seems the ratio of serious:funny is quite changed. For context, my favorite series is TOS so I like having a whimsy episode once in a while.

When the Streaming era began, the focus seemed to be on dark, gritty, prestige tv but that’s gone by the wayside. Why do you think that is? Do you like the current atmosphere? Do you think it plays better in the market? I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts.

Personally I really dislike how jovial SNW has become, but I think the more lighthearted vibe works for SA and works well with Holly Hunters’ persona.

 

[Starflight]

It's a huge relief after the prestige era, which was incredibly dull and soulless IMO. I really hope the prestige trend is behind us now; it was a horrible thing for sci-fi and genre fiction in general.

Even if they over-correct into comedy a bit, it's still a welcome breath of fresh air. I've only seen the first episode of SFA so far but the comedy was very well-integrated, I thought.

I don't like SNW's recent tone either, but I'd attribute that more to it being excessively cloying and self-referential than too jovial.

 

[Miami Vice Admiral]

I've only seen the first episode of SFA so far but the comedy was very well-integrated, I thought.

I thought the first episode was really well balanced even with Paul G having a Tic-Tac-To head.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

It really feels like the writers saw what my beloved Lower Decks was doing and how much people were responding to it, and wanted to join in. Trouble is they copied the 'literally a sitcom' part instead of the 'incredibly faithful to the vibe of Star Trek' part.

I get the impression that current audiences are getting tired of jokey Marvel style stories and are craving some sincerity. Personally I just want to see a fictional world I can believe in and take seriously, with entertaining characters who also take it seriously. Not too edgy and grimdark, not too goofy and fantastical, just... real. More or less.

 

[fireproof78]

I prefer humor. Life is too damn sullen nowadays.

 

[Firebird]

Personally, I don't see it being an increase in comedy so much as seeing characters that are enjoying the things they do in Starfleet and having - dare I say - FUN. We're seeing Star Trek embrace being optimistic and joyful again, and frankly, I'm here for it.

 

[camdudetenger2018]

Watching the new Starfleet Academy episodes, it seems clear that Star Trek is continuing to bend towards the goofy side. Obviously there is still much to come but this seems to be the trend in my mind.

Yes, Star Trek has always had humor, but because of the low amount of episodes per season it seems the ratio of serious:funny is quite changed. For context, my favorite series is TOS so I like having a whimsy episode once in a while.

When the Streaming era began, the focus seemed to be on dark, gritty, prestige tv but that’s gone by the wayside. Why do you think that is? Do you like the current atmosphere? Do you think it plays better in the market? I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts.

Personally I really dislike how jovial SNW has become, but I think the more lighthearted vibe works for SA and works well with Holly Hunters’ persona.

strange new worlds also has comedy in most of the episodes

 

[camdudetenger2018]

i like the comedy in star trek starfleet academy and also in star trek strange new worlds

 

[fireproof78]

Personally, I don't see it being an increase in comedy so much as seeing characters that are enjoying the things they do in Starfleet and having - dare I say - FUN. We're seeing Star Trek embrace being optimistic and joyful again, and frankly, I'm here for it.

Same. I get the desire for a world we can imagine being in but good grief is the self serious lecturing so damn boring. The fun of life is missing.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Ive said loads of times I find SNW too flippant and quippy, but it suits SFA just fine.

 

[Smear-Gel]

I'd also say that I really dislike how jovial SNW has become but really enjoy the humour of SA. I dont mind the humour because I think it grounds the world and characters. It does feel like live action Lower Decks in a good way, but I feel like I need to watch more of this before I can say why those work for me and SNW doesn't. I can think of a few reasons now but cant tell if those are actual reasons or just vibes so far.

It doesnt go as far as making it hard to take the events of the episode seriously, and there is some substance of a story behind it, and the shows know where to mine their humour, which I think goes a long way. There's jokes about the roomate situation but they arent going to mine comedy out of the Betazoids feeling fearful of opening themselves up to enemy attacks from marauders.

 

[Miami Vice Admiral]

I think the humor is more palatable for me in SA because they’re kids in college, so yeah they say a bunch of funny and dumb stuff.

SNW is hard for me because a lot of the sort of naval ridgidness is gone. For example in TOS, Kirk always had fun with his friends but when things got serious, it was deathly serious. SNW vibe seems more like an informal work environment. I think Firebird is right that the characters really have fun in their work, which is appropriate in-universe for them being optimistic explorers, but it’s hard for me to take when they encounter real danger.

 

[I am not Spock]

i have to agree that i think the humour works better in SFA than it does in SNW.

It's kind of like a live action Lower Decks, mixed with a bit of Prodigy, and a bit of Kelvin

 

[Smear-Gel]

I think the humor is more palatable for me in SA because they’re kids in college, so yeah they say a bunch of funny and dumb stuff.

SNW is hard for me because a lot of the sort of naval ridgidness is gone. For example in TOS, Kirk always had fun with his friends but when things got serious, it was deathly serious. SNW vibe seems more like an informal work environment. I think Firebird is right that the characters really have fun in their work, which is appropriate in-universe for them being optimistic explorers, but it’s hard for me to take when they encounter real danger.

I think this is also the difference in SNW and Lower Decks bridge humour. Yes it's a comedy and the bridge crew do comedic things, but in universe, they're still a serious and formal bridge crew that expect formality. To the point where multiple episodes hinge on the conflict simply being one of the warp core four speaking up over the bridge crew with their ideas. Sometimes in SNW it's like the characters know they're all just friends in a comedic story.

 

[I am not Spock]

the cast of SNW are like high school friends joshing around.

In contrast, in the first episode of SFA, we've already seen the cadets thrust into a serious situation, and handle it in a serious manner.

 

[fireproof78]

the cast of SNW are like high school friends joshing around.

In contrast, in the first episode of SFA, we've already seen the cadets thrust into a serious situation, and handle it in a serious manner.

Pike and company are serious.

 

[Miami Vice Admiral]

Pike and company are serious.

Yeah they definitely have serious moments but aren’t AS serious as previous crews

 

[fireproof78]

Yeah they definitely have serious moments but aren’t AS serious as previous crews

For me, that's fine. Been in the professional world over twenty years and seen many unserious moments from doctorate level and director level professional.

 

[Miami Vice Admiral]

For me, that's fine. Been in the professional world over twenty years and seen many unserious moments from doctorate level and director level professional.

In line with that, I think culturally an informal workplace is more popular than ever, so I could see Paramount being influenced by that.

 

[I am not Spock]

i reckon Paramount saw the positive fan response to Lower Decks, and wanted more of that in the live action shows.

Disco and Pic were pretty grimdark, mostly. After LD, a lot of Trek has become more full of levity.